I’m asking this on behalf of a friend. His wife left him (not a legal separation) and took the kids with her. She moved in with her sister in law (who is divorcing her brother). It’s all happening at once. Her sister in law left her brother 2 weeks prior; she moved in with another guy within 3 days and he overdosed a few days later! Now my friend’s wife is living in the same apartment where this guy overdosed. She and her sister in law are very bad off on pills. It’s so extreme, that they have lost all logic, reasoning, and care for the children. Not to count they are in a household where multiple drug transactions are taking place.

My friend was finally able to get the kids this weekend (she obviously needed a sitter). The kids are already talking about their “new” step dad. He does not want his kids in a home where drugs are being exchanged and consumed. More importantly, he wants to get his wife help. Is there any way on earth he can get her help if she refuses to do so voluntarily?

He needs to go apply for primary custody with supervised visits for the mother. He really can't get her help other than possibly through the court pushing it when he takes her to court for custody.

Right now if they are married and no papers have been filed then he needs to go down Monday morning and file for custody and for divorce if that's where its heading. Since there is no custody agreement then he has just as much right to the children and he could keep them until the courts say different. But he needs to file for them. Also he needs to keep a log or diary from this point forward. Document everything.

What proof does he have about the drugs being consumed and dealt in the apt she is now living in? Allegations are one thing, proof is another.

At this point assuming he is on the birth certificate, he just keeps them, he can not force her into anything. He keeps them, refuses to allow her to see them, and goes to court and files for custody of the children with her only getting supervised visits.